Organic Theatre: Here art and agriculture converge

TNN | Updated: Dec 5, 2018, 23:55 IST

Thiruvananthapuram: Chenkal panchayat in Parassala block has embarked on a project to revive a tradition in which farming activities and folk theatre had flourished together. Christened ‘Organic Theatre’, a 22-hectre paddy field in the panchayat will be utilized for the project. Organic Theatre conceptualized by city-based cultural organization WIWA, aims to reclaim Kerala’s farming culture through theatre in the villages. The initiative will encourage people of Chenkal panchayat to start cultivating and consuming organic food. The unique venture linking art with agriculture will be inaugurated by industries and sports minister E P Jayarajan on December 11. According to S N Sudhir, the master brain behind the concept, it is the third independent edition of Organic Theatre in an elaborated form. “We chose Chenkal as it is predominantly an agrarian village. Though many of the villagers are into farming they have been using pesticides excessively. As a result, many among the villagers are now cancer patients. So, the particular selection of this village is also to create awareness among the natives on the importance of organic farming which we thought could be revived with the help of traditional art forms,” said Sudhir. This edition of the Organic Theatre is different from that of earlier ones, Sudhir said. “The main aim behind this initiative is to educate and make people aware of the importance of organic farming. Aimed to cover villagers of 21 wards of the panchayat, the awareness campaign will begin from schools,” said Sudhir. Organic theatre will be introduced to students of 17 schools within the panchayat limits. The programme is also expected to help inculcate cultural values in students. Ahead of the programme, a ‘jaiva vilambara jadha’ will be organized, to spread awareness on the importance of agriculture.

The campaigners will reach the venue of Organic Theatre and educate people about its merits. Recently, in association with WIWA, Bharat Bhavan had organized an Organic Theatre at a 10-acre paddy field at Kalamachal near Vamanapuram.